December, 2011

This year obviously the American continent has got all the cold temperatures and snow, which was meant for Scandinavia. After many days of rain the sun is shining for only a couple of hours over Turku, Finland, with no snow what so ever. All children are very worried how Santa Claus and his reindeers will be able to make the trip from Korvatunturi Lapland, Finland to all parts of the world bringing the true atmosphere of Christmas to all colleagues and their families.

2011 has been a very active and important year for the European ENT.

The first Congress of the Confederation of ORL-HNS was arranged July 2-6 2011 in Barcelona, Spain under the Presidency of Professor Manuel Bernal-Sprekelsen. We all went to Barcelona with high expectations, which were not only fulfilled but exceeded. More than 3500 active participants crowded the congress facilities. This was the largest ever arranged meeting of its kind in Europe. The covering and balanced programme attracted participants from all over the world with large delegations among others from China, South America and Near East. The presentations in English and partly in Spanish were well attended, the beautiful city of Barcelona got new admirers and the social events gave the possibility to meet old friends and make new ones. Manuel, Sara González, the Spanish Society and their team is to be recognised and congratulated for this milestone event.

The European Board Examination (EBE) in ENT-HNS Part I was well attended the day before the Barcelona meeting and has become a standard event at similar occasions.

The oral (Part II) EBE exam was arranged by Professors Klaus Albegger and Angelos Nikolaou, Maria de la Mota and their working group in November in Vienna. 104 candidates and a large number of examiners from many European countries participated. One can say, that the EBE ENT-HNS examination has now become well established.

Professor Jan Olofsson stepped down as President of EUFOS and the Confederation. He has actively taken part in the development of the European organisations during several years in various positions the latest being President of EUFOS and the Confederation. He was recognised for his major contributions and elected Honorary President of EUFOS. We all wish you Jan many happy decades to come and hope to see you frequently on European ENT-HNS events.

The UEMS ORL-HNS Section meeting was arranged by Önur Celik 29.9.-2.10.2011 in Izmir Turkey with strong support from the Turkish ORL Society. The main topics introduced by the President Karl Hörmann and General Secretary Chris Milford were the state and further development of the EBE examination, residency and subspecialty training in ORL-HNS and other topics discussed were the European accreditation council EACCME, which grants the CME points for European events, Manpower in ENT in Europe and a report on the subspecialist education in Facial Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery by Fazil Apaydin. The meeting was well attended and laid the foundation for the main topic of the 2012 meeting in Vilnius Lithuania 5.-7.10.2012 concentrating on European subspecialty training programmes on ORL-HNS.

The arrangements for the next European Academy of ORL-HNS and Confederation meeting to be held in April 27-30 2013 in Nice under the Presidency of Professor Jacques Magnan are well on the way. The European subspecialty organisations have nominated their representatives for the preparations and hopefully also the national ENT Societies will actively take part in the programme planning. I’m convinced, that this will be another milestone meeting for European ENT. Without doubt the timing in April makes it very attractive to visit the Mediterranean coast from northern and middle parts of Europe.

For more information visit the web site www.eaorlhnsnice2013.com/en/

During the Barcelona meeting it was several time expressed, that the structure of European ENT organisations should be revised. The subspecialty organisations and the national societies worked in close collaboration to arrange, and during the Barcelona event. This has continued since and there is a growing support to strengthen the role of the Confederation of European ORL-HNS, which was officially registered under Austrian law in Vienna 2011. Many look forward to, that EUFOS and the EAORL-HNS will join its forces, and in collaboration with the UEMS-ENT Section, will continue their activities under this umbrella organisation. Decisions can be expected in 2013 in Nice from the General Assembly meetings.

The European ENT organisations have been well supported by Magisters Andrea Balcar and Stefan Walter from the PCO Mondial, and I want to thank them for the hard and productive work they have done. I also take this opportunity to thank all colleagues and co-workers with whom I have had the possibility to work with during 2011.

I wish you all a Peaceful and Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous year in 2012.

July, 2011

on the occasion of the 1st Congress of the Confederation of European ORL-HNS, which took place from July 2 - 6, 2011 in Barcelona, we would like to tell you more about the Confederation of European ORL- HNS, its aims and objectives. Creating one voice for ORL-HNS in Europe and beyond – by uniting the forces of EUFOS, the EAORL-HNS and of the UEMS ORL Section and Board.

• EUFOS represents all of Europe's national ENT societies – currently 46
• EAORL-HNS is comprised of 15 European subspecialty societies
• UEMS ORL Section and Board is the specialist section of the UEMS

The decision to create this umbrella organisation was taken during the 1st Meeting of the European Academy of ORL-HNS which took place from June 27 - 30, 2009 in Mannheim. Following Mannheim, the constitution of the Confederation was drafted, and was adopted in the General Assemblies of both EUFOS and the EAORL-HNS which took place during the Barcelona congress. It has since then been duly registered in Vienna, Austria.

The Confederation will organise a meeting every two years. Following this year's 1st Congress of the Confederation of European ORL-HNS, the next one will take place from April 27 - 30, 2013 in Nice, and will be organised by the EAORL-HNS in the cooperation with EUFOS and UEMS ORL Section and Board.

All information on the Confederation will be made available here on www.ceorlhns.org once in the months to come.
Questions may be forwarded to Ms. Andrea Balcar, andrea.balcar (at) ceorl-hns.org

We are confident that our efforts to join forces within the field of ORL-HNS meets your approval, and cordially invite you to be a part of them!